Radbourne Circular Walk - Derby and South Derbyshire Ramblers

Radbourne Circular Walk
6 kilometres or 3¾ miles. Easy terrain.
Allow 1½ - 2 hours.
This is an enjoyable walk for all the family, but is
not suitable for wheelchair users or people with
pushchairs. The walk takes in pastureland,
woodland and parkland, following a network of
footpaths and minor roads.
The scenery varies considerably with each
season, making the walk enjoyable at any time of
the year.
Wear suitable footwear, such as boots or
wellingtons, and take warm waterproof clothing in
case it rains.
You will be walking through working farmland,
so please:
Introduction
1
close all gates
don't disturb any animals
keep to the route shown in this leaflet.
The walk begins at the Honeycomb Public House
on Ladybank Road. Park on Ladybank Road, not
in the pub car park, but please don't block any
driveways. ‘The Mickleover’, blue and red route,
will take you along Ladybank Road to a bus stop
near the public house. Ring Busline on 08706
082608 to check details of bus services.
From the car park turn right, up the hill, along
Ladybank Road for about half a mile.
Danger - busy road. Over a mile from the
original village centre, this part of Mickleover
was mainly developed by Wimpey in the
late 1960s and early 1970s. At the time, it
was described as the largest housing estate
in England.
Radbourne
5
Radbourne
Church
Radbourne Hall
Crown Copyright. All rights reserved.
Derby City Council. LA077755(2003)
The Ordnance Survey mapping included
within this web-site is provided by
Derby City Council, under licence from
Ordnance Survey, in order to fulfil its public
function to act as a planning authority.
Cunnery
Wood
4
Dismantled Railway
Silverhill Farm
Black Wood
Potlocks Farm
3
Greenside Court
Honeycomb
Public House
Roydon Close
0 ½ kilometre
0
1
6
2
N
DERBY CITY COUNCIL
Ladybank Road
Mickleover
½ mile
2
3
Turn right into Greenside Court and follow the
road round to the right. Follow the footpath to
Radbourne. You will walk through three fields
before reaching a former railway line. In the
second field, you will see remnants of the old
ridge and furrow farming system used in
medieval times by feudal villages. This
system was phased out by the Enclosure
Acts in the 18th century. As you enter the
third field, there are good views to your left
and in front of you towards Potlocks Farm.
Cross over both stiles either side of the
former railway line. Note the old ‘Stop Look
Listen - Beware of trains’ sign in the
hedgerow on your right, after the first stile.
This former railway line was part of the Great
Northern Railway, later London and North
Eastern Railway, opened in 1878. Regular
services on this line ended in 1968.
Cross the footbridge over the stream and
continue on towards a stile. Beyond this stile,
Black Wood on your left is a plantation of
Scots Pine. You can tell it’s Scots Pine
because the bark is orange towards the top
of the trunk. Beyond this wood, you will see
more remnants of the old ridge and furrow
farming system. As you climb the stile at the
top of the slope, look all around you. There
are excellent views of the countryside. To
your right, Mickleover is still close by. From
this stile you pass through three fields, two
more stiles and a gate before reaching a
minor road.
4 Cross over the road. Danger - road. Go
through the gate opposite and follow the
footpath through the trees. Now climb the
stile, cross over the footbridge and turn right.
Go through the gate and turn left up the hill,
keeping the woodland to your left.

As you reach the top of the hill, marked by a
triangular enclosure of young beech trees on
your right, you may see Radbourne Hall
ahead of you through the trees.
Radburne Hall - Major Chandos-Pole prefers
this spelling - was built by William Smith of
Warwick for German Pole, pronounced
Jarman Pole, between 1739 - 54 to replace
the earlier house. The first Radbourne Hall
was built for Sir John Chandos, one of the
original Knights of the Garter, who died in
1369. The estate has never passed out of the
ownership of the family.
Continue on, heading down the hill. Ahead of
you is Radbourne Church.
Radbourne Church stands back from the
village in the Hall grounds. Dedicated to St
Andrew, it dates mainly from around 1300,
and has a 15th century tower. Inside are fine
monuments to the Pole family and 14th and
15th century woodwork from Dale Abbey
which was brought here by Francis Pole who
bought the Abbey’s contents on its
dissolution.
At the bottom of the hill go through the field
gate and carry straight on until you reach the
metal ‘kissing gate’. Pass through this gate,
under the Yew tree, and follow the path round
to the left, past the church. You are now in
Radbourne. The name probably means ‘the
stream where reeds grow’. Continue along
the path, through the metal gate and along
the track until you reach the road. Danger -
road.
6
Go through the gate and walk up the field,
heading towards the oak trees in the
distance, to the left of Silverhill Farm. As you
walk up the hill, the views around you open
up. Head towards the solitary oak tree.
The path continues on into the next field. At
the field boundary, follow the line of telegraph
poles. As you walk across this field, look all
around at the excellent views over the open
countryside. The white structure in the
distance on your left is Mackworth Water
Tower.
Continue straight on into the next field,
following the line of telegraph poles until you
reach the hedgerow. Keeping the hedgerow
on your right, follow it until you come to a
stile. Climb over the stile and continue over
the next field towards Mackworth Water
Tower.
When you reach the hedgerow opposite, turn
sharp right towards the road. Climb the stile,
then cross the road. Danger - road. Pass
through the gate to your left. Walk through
the next three fields, keeping the hedgerow to
your right. In the distance is Mickleover.
Cross the former railway line. Derby City
Council and Derbyshire County Council have
developed it as a footpath and cycleway
linking Derby with Etwall. Follow the tarmac
path straight in front of you and along Roydon
Close to Ladybank Road. Danger - busy
road.
Enjoy the countryside and respect its life and work.
Guard against all risk of fire.
Fasten all gates.
Keep your dogs under close control.
Keep to public paths across farmland.
Use gates and stiles to cross fences, hedges and
walls.
Leave livestock, crops and machinery alone.
Take your litter home.
Help to keep all water clean.
Protect wildlife, plants and trees.
Take special care on country roads.
Make no unnecessary noise.
Further Information
Environment Projects Officer
Derby City Council
Development and Cultural Services
Roman House
Friar Gate
DERBY DE1 1XB
Telephone
Textphone
01332 255021
01332 258427
Many thanks to Roy Christian for the historical information.
This leaflet is one in a series published by Derby City Council.
Plain English by
DERBY CITY COUNCIL
Please tell us if you need this document in large print,
on audio tape, computer disc or in Braille. You can
contact us on 01332 255093 or on textphone 01332
258427 or fax 01332 255989. Or use the equipment
at Central Library, Wardwick to convert this into voice
and large print. Please contact us if you need help
reading this document or any part of it translating.
Radbourne
Circular
Walk
DERBY CITY COUNCIL
5
Turn right, keeping to the right hand verge. To
your right is Cunnery Wood, a cunnery being
a rabbit warren. Keep on the road until you
have gone over the little brick bridge. On the
left, just beyond the bridge, is the sign to the
footpath you will be following.
Turn right and head back to the public
house. If you want, you can now have a well
deserved drink or something to eat. If you do
go in the pub, please take your muddy
footwear off. Please remember, don't drink
and drive.
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